NAOMA: history and lessons of student struggle
On 10 March this year, students of the National Academy of Fine Arts and Architecture (NAOMA) went on a picket to demand that repairs to their dormitory be started and that communal services prices be reduced. The protest was the culmination of events that began in November last year, when, in the midst of the […]
Life of Ukrainian students between neoliberalism and war
In the third year of the full-scale invasion, Ukrainian students are grappling with a stark reality: rather than enhancing social support, the government is scaling back assistance. Many internally displaced persons (IDPs) have seen their payments discontinued, while reforms within the Ministry of Education and Science (MES) pose a threat to higher education accessibility for […]
FeesMustFall: Student Riot Amid a Deferred National Revolution In South Africa
South African student movement #FeesMustFall stopped the increase of the educational fees, forced the government to increase the educational subsidies and expand the financial aid programs for the poor and also brought a new generation of leaders into politics. At the first glance, this is a classical heroic story of the victory of the betrodden […]
In between humanism and efficiency: education as a bridge between physical and intellectual labor
Today, the problem of Ukraine's post-war reconstruction is of extreme importance. Some propose non-alternative deregulation and laissez-faire approaches for rebuilding the affected regions and reforming public institutions. On the contrary, others underline the state's role in achieving socially oriented recovery outcomes. In this article, we call for a deeper look, focusing on what fundamental changes […]
Grants and Forced Employment: Whither Ukraine’s Higher Education?
Since the summer of 2023, the issue of educational reforms is back on the agenda. We hear about it from central and local authorities, university rectors, and the media. The “talking heads” of the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine, university administrators, NGO activists, Ukrainian MPs, and others talk about money that “follows the […]
We must fight for the future of Ukrainian education. Interview with the Priama Diia (the Direct Action) student union
On the eve of September 1st, the Day of Knowledge, Commons spoke to activists of the student union Priama Diia about the right to education in a country at war. They explain why they decided to relaunch the union, what obstacles there are to protecting students' rights, and share their plans and dreams for the […]
